Soriano's homer helps Cubs rally past Astros 11-7

[August 06, 2008]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Alfonso Soriano hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the seventh inning and the Chicago Cubs rallied after blowing a five-run lead, beating the Houston Astros 11-7 Tuesday.

Soriano's 20th homer highlighted a five-run burst and sent the NL Central-leading Cubs to their eighth win in 10 games.

The Cubs also welcomed back Kerry Wood. The All-Star closer pitched a scoreless eighth after missing three weeks with a blister on his right index finger.

The late drama came after the Astros beat the Cubs 2-0 in eight innings the previous night. That game was delayed twice by violent storms before finally being called just before midnight because of thunder and lightning.

Soriano drove in four runs. The Astros, who came back from a 6-1 deficit to take the lead, had their four-game winning streak stopped.

The Cubs took their big lead into the fifth inning before the Astros rallied against Rich Harden and Bob Howry on home runs by Ty Wigginton, Geoff Blum and Carlos Lee.

Wigginton connected off Harden leading off the fifth and Kaz Matsui added an RBI triple to make it 6-3. Hunter Pence led off the sixth with a single and Blum hit a two-run homer.

Lee's 26th homer, a two-run drive off Howry with two outs in the seventh, gave Houston a short-lived 7-6 lead.

Chicago came back in the bottom half. Reed Johnson led off with a single, Mark DeRosa doubled and Kosuke Fukudome hit a tying sacrifice fly.

Chris Sampson (5-4) then intentionally walked pinch-hitter Daryle Ward and reliever Wesley Wright struck out pinch-hitter Geovany Soto.

Doug Brocail relieved and Soriano, who had singled and doubled, drove a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left-center. He has 18 hits in his last 43 at-bats after going 3-for-5 on Tuesday.

The Cubs added another run in the inning when Ryan Theriot walked, stole second and scored on Derrek Lee's single.

Howry (4-4) got the win despite allowing two runs in 1 1-3 innings. Carlos Marmol pitched a perfect ninth.

Harden allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings, tying season-highs, after four dominant starts for Chicago following last month's trade from Oakland. He struck out eight and walked one.

Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez had another rough outing. He lasted just five innings allowed six runs and nine hits in his second straight start.

Notes: To make room for Wood, who was activated from the disabled list, the Cubs designated LHP Scott Eyre for assignment. ... Astros OF Michael Bourn, who was out of the starting lineup for a ninth consecutive game, said his sprained right ankle was feeling better and he hopes to return to the lineup on Thursday at Cincinnati. ... 1B Lance Berkman was given the day off on Tuesday. ... Astros manager Cecil Cooper said he'd like to rest SS Miguel Tejada on Wednesday.

[Associated Press; By ANDREW SELIGMAN]

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